Nouha Dicko’s sweet strike and goalkeeper Lee Grant’s comical own goal saw Kenny Jackett’s side home in a keenly-contested affair, writes Craig Birch. Molineux’s second highest gate of the season - 27,480 - were in attendance as the nation watched on Sky Sports. Ticket prices had been slashed for the fixture. Wolves signed off for the international break in style and left the onus on the five teams in the top six playing tomorrow, before they return to action at Nottingham Forest on Good Friday. The teams went at each other with gusto in the early exchanges, but it was Derby who could have been ahead before Wolves really threatened. They were keen to hit the hosts on the break and nearly did just that in the 16th minute, when Craig Forsyth’s low cross skidded across the box but a sliding Darren Bent couldn’t connect. Derby dangerman Thomas Ince then rattled the woodwork in the 25th minute haring down on goal, his looping effort bouncing off the crossbar. But, just when the visitors were starting to take command, Grant had to come to the rescue in the 26th minute. Dicko pinged in a cross from the right which strike partner Benik Afobe managed to latch onto, but Grant intervened to save with his legs. Afobe and Dicko both fired wide soon after his did Ince, who then forced a strong save from goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak as the England Under-21 international shone. Wolves could arguably have been down to 10 men five minutes before half-time in a real let off for Danny Batth. He pulled down Bent just outside the box and, as the last man, that could have well been it for the home skipper. Referee Keith Stroud didn’t even book him, despite giving a free kick. Both sides went in deadlocked with it all to play for after the break, with the tempo upped at the restart and to Wolves’ advantage. They were suddenly battering the Rams and just three minutes of the second-half had elapsed when they got their noses in front through Dicko. Another pass from Kevin McDonald was picked beautifully as he sprayed the ball diagonally to the left hand edge of the box, where Dicko was advancing. The striker jinked his way in, drawing Grant and then the defenders before slotting the ball into the far corner, giving Wolves the advantage they needed. Derby tried in vain for a swift response with Jesse Lingard drawing the hands of Kuszczak with a shot from outside the box on 54, a flailing Richard Stearman then hacking the ball away. It could and perhaps should have 2-0 in the 57th minute, as another choice delivery from that man McDonald left Afobe tussling with Forsyth to break free. The full-back was riding on the forward’s coat-tails by the time he got into the box and his shot flew over Grant, but proved too high as it the crossbar and bounced over. Then came the killer goal from a Rams perspective in the 69th minute, as Wolves were all but handed the three points as the away side imploded. It wasn’t far substitute Rajiv van La Parra’s first touch as he burst through on Derby’s right hand side, before lifting a speculative ball into the box. First Forsyth made a hash of a clearance that dropped right on his foot as it looped over him, before Grant spilled a routine catch completely for the ball to inexplicably drop into the net. There was no stopping Wolves after that gift as they shut up shop and invited pressure, which Steve McLaren’s shell-shocked side could no longer provide. Instead, it was Wolves who could have made the result more emphatic at the death. Bakary Sako worked himself into a good position only to fire over in stoppage time.

BEEB

Wolves moved into the Championship play-off scramble with two second-half goals to beat promotion rivals Derby County. After Tom Ince had hit the bar in a first-half shaded by the Rams, Wolves struck through Nouha Dicko three minutes after the restart. Rams keeper Lee Grant's own goal then sealed Wolves' rise to seventh, level on points with sixth-place Brentford. Derby remain fifth after their winless run stretched to six matches. Although they were denied by a succession of saves in both halves from Wolves keeper Tomasz Kuszczak, Derby could not find a way through, leaving Steve McClaren's one-time promotion favourites just two points better off than Kenny Jackett's Wolves. Apart from one menacing run to the bye line by Bakary Sako, Wolves's promising start in front of a near capacity crowd had rather lost its way by the break. Derby four times went close, with Ince, son of former Wolves skipper Paul, being denied first by the bar, then by home keeper Kuszczak, who also made full-length saves to block Jesse Lingard and Craig Bryson. There was also a moment of contention when Darren Bent went down easily following a brush with Richard Stearman on the edge of the box but, although referee Keith Stroud gave a free-kick, he chose not to punish the Wolves player. Derby's growing authority vanished just three minutes into the second half when visiting left-back Craig Forsyth's loose pass triggered the opening goal. Kevin McDonald fed Dicko and, after appearing to take the ball a little too wide, he turned to drill a low left-foot shot which nutmegged the hapless recovering Forsyth, brushing his thigh on the corner of the six-yard box on the way in. Benik Afobe might have made it two with a powerful right-foot shot which hit the bar before Wolves' opponents somehow engineered a scrappy second for their hosts Richard Keogh's clearance span wickedly high up into the air and, with Danny Batth making a nuisance of himself at the near post, Grant was sufficiently distracted to flap the viciously spinning ball into his own net

Table toppers

Both Derby and Wolves have topped the Championship table this season, although the time spent on top by Steve McClaren's Rams at various times accounts for a lot longer. By comparison, Wolves's time at the top, after the 0-0 lunchtime draw with Birmingham City on 1 November, lasted just two hours

Wolves defenders Richard Stearman and Dominic Iorfa are fit to face Derby after recovering from injury problems. Stearman was stretchered off during Tuesday's 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Molineux with nerve pain in his back and hamstring.

Derby County defender Jake Buxton is likely to miss the match with a back problem. Striker Chris Martin and midfielder John Eustace are also out as Derby aim to end a five-game winless run.

Wolves head coach Kenny Jackett told BBC Sport:

"Richard Stearman's partnership with Danny Batth has been my preferred selection and I'm glad that's able to continue. Games like this whet the appetite. Everybody's got their eyes on that top six and what it takes to get there. Making that late run is something we're all trying to do. All we can do is worry about ourselves. I'm not surprised Derby are up there in contention again. We've worked hard to keep on their coat tails from when they beat us earlier in the season and we're pleased to still be up there in the mix. Over the last two years, Derby have shown that they're one of the best footballing sides in the division. A lot of what they do, I admire. If they get there, their style would really suit the Premier League."

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Derby won the earlier meeting this season 5-0 at the iPro Stadium in November - their first win in six meetings. The Rams have won only one of the last seven meetings at Molineux. Their only

win there since 1994 was 1-0 in September 2006.

Wolves

Wolves' win against Sheffield Wednesday at home on Tuesday was their first victory in four matches. They have won three of their last four home games, drawing the other. Their last defeat at

Molineux was 2-1 against Reading on 7 February.

Derby

Derby have failed to win any of their last five games, losing three. Their last win was 2-0 against Charlton at home on 24 February. The Rams have not won any of their last five away games, losing

two. Their last win on the road was 2-0 at Cardiff on 31 January.

Wolves 3 Sako 18′ (pen) Afobe 55′ Henry 67′ Sheffield Wednesday 0

Richard Stearman was stretchered off in his 200th game for Wolves. He pulled up sharply after a polite shoulder charge knocked an Owl over and another strong display. Outstanding goal from James Henry a sub after RVLP appeared to have forgotten how to track back.

It started with a dodgy penalty but it ended with one of Wolves’ most convincing victories of a pulsating season that refuses to die for Kenny Jackett’s side. Bakary Sako’s 18th-minute spot kick following Nouha Dicko’s fall that looked right out of Fernando Forestieri’s book of tricks paved the way for a third win in four home games. Benik Afobe (55) and substitute James Henry (67) added the gloss that was slightly tarnished by Richard Stearman’s exit on a stretcher 17 minutes from time. But it was just the sort of determined, full throttle

performance to make the missing fans whet their lips in anticipation of Friday night’s televised visit of Derby. Jackett made two changes from the line-up that made it successive draws at Brighton on Saturday. Scott Golbourne and Nouha Dicko replaced Kortney Hause and James Henry as Jackett went for a more attacking team. Wolves, unusually kicking towards the South Bank in the first half, immediately set about putting Wednesday under pressure. There was plenty of possession but little in the way of clear-cut chances until after Rajiv Van La Parra crossed too close to keeper Keiren Westwood in the 11th minute, with both strikers poised to pounce in the box. Wednesday threatened two minutes later when Tom Lees climbed between two Wolves players at the far post but nodded too high from Jeremy Helan’s deep free kick. But the home side were quite literally in a hurry as they chased an early breakthrough, and they took the lead in somewhat fortunate circumstances. Nouha Dicko skipped past the challenge of Helan but was still accelerating when he was caught by minimal contact from Claude Dielna, who had made three glorious interceptions earlier to deny the fired-up Wolves attack. Referee Simon Hooper had no hesitation in pointing to the spot however and Sako side-footed home for his 12th goal of the season, but

only the second penalty. For the home side, virtually all their concentration was on pushing forwards at every opportunity. But they had to be wary of Wednesday on the break and in ex-Owls loan defender Danny Batth, Wolves had the right man in the right place on three occasions to head powerfully away. Kevin McDonald was having arguably the best attacking display in a Wolves shirt as he burst forward on several occasions from central midfield. And it all added up to what was probably Wolves’ most attacking performance of the season as they forced another four good chances in eight minutes either side of the half hour. Jack Price rolled the ball wide after Sako played it into Matt Doherty who miscued his shot and van La Parra’s effort was blocked on 25 minutes. Two minutes later, Benik Afobe put Dicko through but the striker produced a poor first touch and the ball rolled harmlessly behind. On 32, Dicko was much closer as his spectacular curling shot from 20 yards was superbly clawed out of the air by a flying save from Keiren Westwood palming away. Within 60 seconds, Price sidefooted straight at the keeper after Sako put Van La Parra through for the cut back on the overlap. That was it from Wolves as attacking force before the break, but they couldn’t relax. Wednesday threatened with a header from Jacques Maghoma that had keeper Tomasz Kuszczak at full stretch to palm away in the 36th minute. The competitive edge of the game threatened to spill over in the two minutes of time added on at the end of the first half. First, Afobe caught Helan late with a challenge and the noise of the collision could be heard around the ground. Then Sam Hutchinson did what looked like the same thing on Sako. If Wolves thought they were going to repeat their furious first half by laying siege to the Wednesday goal, they were sadly mistaken. Instead the Owls tried in vain for the equaliser. Maghoma was inches away with a curling shot that bounced just wide of Kuszczak’s left-hand post. Wednesday continued to cause Wolves problems and a header from the towering Atdhe Nuhui bounced on top of the net to give the hosts another nervous moment. Jackett felt the need to change things and in the 52nd minute he brought on Henry for Van La Parra, who had something of an untidy start to the second half. Wolves broke to double their lead with their first real attack of the second half on the hour. The excellent Doherty looked up from the right and his cross was perfect for the in-rushing Afobe to meet it full on the volley. The ball hit the inside of Westwood’s right-hand post before nestling in the opposite corner for his eighth goal in 13 games for Wolves and 27th of the season. And Henry duly made it 3-0, floating a delicious rising shot into the far corner of the net after cutting in from the right and adjusting himself to strike it with his right foot. But there was more drama to come as Stearman, clearly struggling, fell to the floor after deliberately poking the ball out for a throw-in in the 73rd minute. And the Wolverhampton-born stopper suffered the misfortune of being stretchered off on his 200th League game for the club. Ethan Ebanks-Landell replaced him for his first start since November 22. Wolves will be hoping the damage to Stearman isn’t long term as they could do without disruptions at this stage. But either way, the team look set for the challenge of Derby - and the race for a play-off place is still very much on.

Wolves cut the gap to the play-off zone to three points in a deserved draw at struggling Brighton.

Defeat for sixth-placed Brentford at home to Cardiff meant Kenny Jackett’s side are now a win away from the top six with nine games left, albeit with an inferior goal difference. Bruno Saltor put the Seagulls ahead in the 70th minute after Craig Mackail-Smith had an effort disallowed for offside on 59. But Rajiv Van La Parra will claim the 74th-minute equaliser after his right-wing cross was fumbled into his own net by keeper David Stockdale.

Mackail-Smith sent a free header straight at Tomasz Kuszczak in the second minute, but Wolves could have taken the lead twice on nine minutes when Benik Afobe was foiled by Stockdale then Bakary Sako’s follow-up was cleared off the line by Gordon Greer. Stockdale denied Wolves at the death when he saved a Sako drive at full length. Wolves boss Kenny Jackett named an unchanged line-up from the side that drew 2-23 against Watford last week. Lee Evans was recalled to the bench in place of Michael Jacobs, who has joined Blackpool on loan for the rest of the season. But there was no place in the squad again for Dominic Iorfa. Brighton made six changes to the team beaten 2-1 at Reading on Tuesday night. One of those was the axeing of former Wolves utility man Greg Halford, who was replaced by Bruno Saltor. Former Seagulls keeper Kuszczak was warmly applauded when his name was announced before kick-off. Brighton dominated possession in the early stages but Wolves came back into the game in the final 15 minutes before half-time. The Seagulls wasted a glorious chance in the second minute when Mackail-Smith headed straight at Kuszczak from Beram Kayal’s cross from six yards out. The home side continued to boss the game territorially, but Wolves were presented with two chances to snatch the lead in the ninth minute. Lewis Dunk slipped and then tugged Van La Parra’s shirt and Afobe was onto the ball in a flash. But the striker’s shot was smothered by Stockdale, who raced off his line. The loose ball ran to Sako, whose low goalbound drive was hacked off the line by Greer. Dunk was booked for his troubles when he could have been sent off. A mix-up between Sako and Danny Batth presented Mackail-Smith with a second opportunity on 16. But the long-haired former Peterborough striker could only roll the ball wide from a clear sight of goal. Afobe found himself with a sniff of goal in the 27th minute and forced the first serious save of the game with an angled left-foot effort that had Stockdale scrambling to his left to scoop the ball away. This signalled Wolves coming much more into the game and Kevin McDonald curled just wide from the edge of the box on 39. A minute later and against the run of play, Kayal had a low effort blocked by Batth in a crowded box. Greer became the second player to be booked in the 42nd minute when he held Afobe moments after advantage was allowed when he appeared to drag down James Henry.

Wolves had the first sight of goal of the second period in the 46th minute when Sako burst forward from the middle of the park but could only screw his shot well wide. But this half was a much more open affair, with the play becoming stretched, a higher tempo and more urgency. Van La Parra appeared to get away with a trip on Joe Bennett just inside the Wolves penalty area on 58.

And they had another escape a minute later when Mackail-Smith had an effort ruled out for offside after Kuszczak parried Joao Teixeira’s angled drive. This was a purple patch for Brighton and Teixeira had another good sight of goal on 63 after Bruno’s cut back but could only flash a rising drive well over. Wolves brought on Nouha Dicko for Henry in the 64th minute in an attempt to stretch the game even more. But it was Brighton who took the lead when Bruno let fly with an angled drive from just inside the box after Inigo Calderon’s shot hit Mackail-Smith and bounced out wide to the full-back. It had actually been Wolves on the break with a quickly-taken free kick from Sako to Doherty but the ball ran on and was gobbled up by Kayal. The lead lasted just four minutes however as Wolves equalised in bizarre circumstances. Van La Parra burst down the right and for once produced an early cross which was palmed into the net at the near post by Stockdale. It looked like an own goal but the Dutchman will no doubt be looking to claim his second goal for Wolves. Wolves ended the game on a high as Dicko cut the ball back for Sako to unleash a blistering shot that was palmed wide. Then Batth had two shots blocked from successive corners. But in the end a draw was a fair result as Wolves still look to make big inroads to the play-off zone with nine games left.

Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1. Rajiv van La Parra (Wolves) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Richard Stearman. 69:50 Goal scored Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0. Bruno (Brighton) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. 69:48 Attempt blocked. Íñigo Calderón (Brighton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by João Teixeira. 69:28 Craig Mackail-Smith (Brighton) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 69:28 Foul by Kevin McDonald (Wolves). 69:10 Foul by Craig Mackail-Smith (Brighton). 69:10 Matt Doherty (Wolves) wins a free kick on the right wing. 68:26 Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Danny Holla. 63:28 Lewis Dunk (Brighton) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 63:28 Foul by Nouha Dicko (Wolves). 63:07 Sub, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Nouha Dicko replaces James Henry. 62:23 Attempt missed. João Teixeira (Brighton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Bruno. 60:56 Delay over. They are ready to continue. 59:39 Delay in match Danny Batth (Wolves) because of an injury. 58:46 Attempt blocked. Craig Mackail-Smith (Brighton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by João Teixeira. 58:05 Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. João Teixeira tries a through ball, but Craig Mackail-Smith is caught offside. 58:04 Attempt saved. João Teixeira (Brighton) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bruno. 55:31 Attempt missed. Craig Mackail-Smith (Brighton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide

45:00 +1:17 Half time First Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0. 45:00 +1:04 Attempt missed. Íñigo Calderón (Brighton) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by João Teixeira. 44:11 Beram Kayal (Brighton) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 44:11 Foul by Bakary Sako (Wolves). 42:57 Attempt missed. Kevin McDonald (Wolves) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner. 42:11 Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Joe Bennett. 41:35 Gordon Greer (Brighton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 41:14 Foul by Gordon Greer (Brighton). 41:14 Benik Afobe (Wolves) wins a free kick on the left wing. 39:19 Attempt blocked. João Teixeira (Brighton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Dale Stephens. 38:51 Attempt blocked. James Henry (Wolves) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Benik Afobe with a headed pass. 38:19 Attempt missed. Kevin McDonald (Wolves) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jack Price. 35:59 Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. David Stockdale tries a through ball, but Craig Mackail-Smith is caught offside. 35:19 Attempt saved. Craig Mackail-Smith (Brighton) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by João Teixeira with a through ball. 34:16 Attempt blocked. Matt Doherty (Wolves) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bakary Sako. 31:57 Attempt saved. Bakary Sako (Wolves) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by James Henry. 30:11 Foul by Beram Kayal (Brighton). 30:11 Matt Doherty (Wolves) wins a free kick on the right wing. 26:43 Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by David Stockdale. 26:42 Attempt saved. Benik Afobe (Wolves) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kortney Hause. 23:13 Attempt missed. Dale Stephens (Brighton) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right following a set piece situation. 23:11 Attempt missed. Gordon Greer (Brighton) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Danny Holla following a set piece situation. 22:52 Craig Mackail-Smith (Brighton) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 22:52 Foul by Danny Batth (Wolves). 20:45 Bruno (Brighton) wins a free kick on the right wing. 20:45 Foul by Kortney Hause (Wolves). 18:56 Delay over. They are ready to continue. 18:26 Delay in match Íñigo Calderón (Brighton) because of an injury. 17:51 João Teixeira (Brighton) wins a free kick on the left wing. 17:51 Foul by Matt Doherty (Wolves). 15:40 Attempt missed. Craig Mackail-Smith (Brighton) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. 14:11 Beram Kayal (Brighton) wins a free kick on the left wing. 14:11 Foul by Jack Price (Wolves). 13:27 Foul by Danny Holla (Brighton). 13:27 Kevin McDonald (Wolves) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 11:28 Corner, Brighton and Hove

Determined Wolves produced one of their most stirring performances for some time in an entertaining 2-2 draw against Watford. In an end-to-end affair that had the feel of a cup tie, Benik Afobe (14) and Jack Price (50) - for his first senior goal - twice deservedly put Wolves ahead. That was only to be pegged back by ex-Albion loan forward Matej Vydra (14) and former Walsall striker Troy Deeney (65). But Wolves were more than good enough value for a point and there were plenty of chances at both ends before the injury-time drama. That saw Watford left-back Tommie Hoban was sent off for a second bookable offence then Bakary Sako saw red for pushing Fernando Forestieri. Wolves boss Kenny Jackett made two changes from the side that lost 2-1 at Bournemouth on Tuesday night. Price and James Henry were recalled in midfield for Dave Edwards and Nouha Dicko, who both dropped to what was an attacking bench. There was Kevin Doyle and Michael Jacobs, but no room for Dominic Iorfa or Lee Evans. Henry was playing in the ‘number 10’ role with Rajiv Van La Parra to his right and Bakary Sako to his left. Afobe, who made his 100th League appearance in midweek, the lone front man as Jackett ditched the 4-4-2 formation used over the previous six games. Former Watford goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak and on-loan Watford midfielder Adlene Guedioura were facing their old clubs. But there was no place in the squad for 17-goal top scorer Odion Ighalo, who suffered a hamstring injury in training and didn’t travel. Wolves started brightly in the spring Molineux sunshine and there was a lively tempo from the home side that they managed to retain all the way through the first half. There was an early enforced change for the visitors after midfielder Almen Abdi signalled to the bench that he was struggling and he was replaced in the 12th minute by Gianni Munari. After dominating the play without creating serious chances, the hosts took a deserved lead in simple circumstances. Afobe made it look all too easy as he latched onto Richard Stearman’s deep free kick, controlled it and look up, He then dispatched a fierce low shot across keeper Heurelho Gomes for his seventh goal in 11 games for his new club and 26th of the season. The goal was just what Wolves needed and they maintained their momentum and quickly hunted down the chance to double their lead. Three minutes after takin the lead, Henry produced a low rasping shot that Gomes was equal to, crouching at his near post. But after a further period of attacking from Wolves, Watford levelled against the run of play. There was a suspicion of offside as former Walsall striker Troy Deeney split the defence with a deep pass. Vydra was onto it in a flash, holding off a challenge before driving home from just outside the box for his 11th goal of the season. The equaliser didn’t seem to affect Wolves too much and they returned to the attack. Van La Parra was seeing a lot of the ball on the right and seven minutes before the break. He produced a superb cross that just needed the final touch, but Henry got there too quickly and couldn’t connect properly. A minute later, Henry was heavily involved again as Wolves went close to taking the lead for a second time. The former Millwall winger dispossessed Gabrielle Angella and raced goalwards, crossing for Afobe, whose climbing far-post header was tipped over by Gomes. But Watford showed why they are the highest scorers in all four divisions by looking dangerous on the break. And that was the case moments before half-time when Vydra got away from Batth from Ben Watson’s pass after the latter was found in space by Craig Cathcart. But Vydra’s angled shot was thumped straight into the chest of Kuszczak. If the first half had been memorable - and the crowd seemed to think so with warm applause from all four sides to greet the whistle - then the second was even better. Wolves managed to retain their fast tempo from the first half and were rewarded with a string of attacks as they looked for that second goal. And it came with their first attempt following the restart. Price got a heavy touch with what looked like his chest to divert Kortney Hause’s long-range drive into the corner of the net after a corner was cleared. Then Wolves twice went close to a third goal in two minutes as first Van La Parra with a fierce, angled drive then Henry with a looping header were inches wide. But Watford weren’t finished by any stretch and Watson crashed a first-time curling shot off the underside of the bar on 56 after a loose ball squirted across the box. Five minutes later Wolves went desperately close to a third goal as Craig Cathcart slid in to divert Afobe’s cross inches behind with Gomes committed the wrong way. But Wolves were left to rue their near missed as Watford equalised for a second time - and again it was against the run of play. A long ball over the top found its way to Deeney, who held off Batth to poke the ball past Kuszczak. Watford hit Wolves again on the break as Munari was presented with an opening on 78 but sent a diving header well wide from Deeney’s cross. Eight minutes later, Afobe’s deflected shot on the turn from deep in the box was held by Gomes after a pass from Danny Batth. And on the stroke of the end of normal time, Forestieri sliced high and wide after Vydra found him in space following a poor clearance from Batth. But the drama wasn’t finished and both teams had a player sent off in the five minutes of time added on. First Hoban saw red for a second bookable offence for clattering Van La Parra again. Then Sako reacted to a foul by Forestieri with a push in the chest and the Watford sub lay poleaxed, clutching his face. Wolves players immediately surrounded Forestieri to make their feelings known. And the home side will hope they can successfully appeal Sako’s dismissal after what looked like a clear case of play-acting from Forestieri, instead of losing their 11-goal top scorer to a three-match ban. In the end Wolves had to settle for a point, but they were tremendous value for it and they remain in the hunt for a play-off place.

Golden shirt, golden boot? Former Arsenal man Afobe is the leading scorer in the top four divisions with 26 from 41 appearances for MK Dons and Wolves this season.

Wolves and Watford both had a player sent off in injury time in an exciting draw at Molineux. Tommie Hoban was shown a second yellow for Watford before Bakary Sako was given a straight red after raising his hand to Fernando Forestieri. Benik Afobe gave Wolves the lead early on before Matej Vydra levelled. Jack Price restored the home team's advantage just after the break, but Troy

Deeney equalised after showing good strength before the late drama. The late red cards were out of keeping with a keenly fought match that had seen just two s in the first 90 minutes. Hoban could have few complaints about his sending off for a second bookable offence, but Wolves may feel aggrieved by the red shown to winger Sako after Forestieri reacted theatrically to a push from the Mali international.

The hosts were looking to bounce back after losing at Bournemouth on Tuesday and got their rewards for a bright start. Kevin McDonald had twice tried to play Afobe through on goal before getting the weight of his pass spot at the third time attempt to leave the 22-year-old January signing to slot home. High-flying Watford went into the match on the back of three successive wins, but struggled to assert themselves in the opening exchanges before equalising against the run of play. Vydra, who spent last season on loan at Wolves' local rivals West Brom, finished well after being played through by Deeney in the 30th minute. Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes saved well from Afobe before the break, but may feel he should have done better with the effort that gave Wolves the lead for the second time. Kortney Hause's shot took a heavy deflection off midfielder Price and the ball squirmed through Gomes's hands. The Hornets, who would have gone top with a win, knew they could ill-afford to slip up and Ben Watson went close to a rapid equaliser when he rattled the bar from 12 yards out. The visitors did have their leveller, however, when captain Deeney shrugged off two Wolves defenders before finishing for his 16th goal of the season. Both teams pushed on in search of a winner without really threatening before Hoban and

Wolves were blown apart by the seaside as promotion rivals Bournemouth took the wind out of their promotion sails tonight. A double from burly striker Yann Kermogant which sandwiched a fine reply from Benik Afobe six minutes before the break was enough to end Wolves’ hopes of a fourth straight win. And they could have few complaints. Apart from the 15 minutes before half-time, Wolves were largely second best to a slicker Bournemouth outfit, Afobe’s equaliser their only serious attempt on goal throughout. Boss Kenny Jackett made two changes to the side that beat Cardiff 1-0 on Saturday as Matt Doherty and Nouha Dicko were recalled in place of Dominic Iorfa and Jack Price, which saw Rajiv Van La Parra switch from up front to wide right.

Doherty got his reward to return at right back after a solid half an hour at Cardiff when he replaced Iorfa, who looked like being sent off, while Kevin Doyle was back on the bench following the birth of his daughter Adrianna on Saturday night. Wolves were making their first trip to Bournemouth since September 1998 and were chasing a slice of history - their first ever away league win there, albeit from only their third trip. And it was soon looking like one they weren’t going to achieve after falling behind in the 10th minute after the hosts settled much better. Yann Kermorgant punished poor marking from Danny Batth and Dave Edwards, who seemed to leave him to each other as he hooked home Callum Wilson’s low cross from the corner of the six-yard box after Richard Stearman had gone to close down the £3m former Wolves target in the corner. It was the first goal conceded by Wolves in 303 minutes since Lewis Grabban struck Norwich’s second in the 2-0 defeat on February 14. And with target man Kermorgant and Wolves old boy Andrew Surman pulling the strings and a nervousness in possession from the men in white, it looked like it was going to be a long night as the visitors couldn’t get going. The Cherries looked much the more comfortable side on the ball on a perfect surface, and Wolves were continually let down by their passing, giving it away carelessly far too often as they struggled to build anything going forwards. Bakary Sako was forced to come infield to receive the ball, but when he did get on it, he was crowded out by the Cherries’ compact midfield as the hosts dominated the middle of the park. With their own carelessness forcing them to defend for long periods, Wolves didn’t break with any purpose until the 28th minute. But when they did, Steve Cook cleared as Benik Afobe tried to connect with Dicko’s left-wing cross after Van La Parra surged forward through the middle. Instead, Bournemouth returned to the attack and Harry Arter’s shot was blocked by Kevin McDonald for a fruitless corner. There was a rare break by Wolves in the 34th minute when Afobe showed a clean pair of heels to Tommy Elphick and crossed but Cook produced a diving header to nod it away from Dicko. But five minutes later, Wolves levelled against the run of play with a well crafted goal. McDonald produced a peach of a pass to split the defence to spot the run of Afobe through the middle and the former Arsenal youngster took a touch before calmly drawing keeper Artur Boruc and sidefooting home with his left foot. The goal - Afobe’s sixth in 10 games for the club and 25th of the season - brought Wolves belatedly into the game and the 22-year-old produced some dazzling footwork to work another opening a minute before the break only to see his low shot smothered by Artur Boruc. There was still time for McDonald to run 40 yards unchallenged before bending his shot inches wide as Wolves ended the first half on a high.

But if they didn’t want the half-time whistle to come, they couldn’t have made a worse start to the second period. Stearman slid in rashly on Wilson as he shot and referee James Linington awarded a penalty, the only doubt being if it was inside the area. The Wolves defender was promptly booked and Kermorgant stepped up to sidefoot home his second of the night, the power of his shot just beating Tonmasz Kuszczak, who guessed the right way. But much like the equaliser brought a big improvement in Wolves, so another Bournemouth goal took them away from the visitors. Kuszczak punched away Arter’s viciously inswinging corner from under his own bar then Wilson blazed over after getting a yard on Stearman as the hosts looked to stretch their lead. Bournemouth continued to look the more likely scorers and Marc Pugh’s drive was blocked off the line by Stearman with Kuszczak beaten in the 68th minute. Wolves struggled to get Dicko into the game all match, and it was little surprise when he made way for Doyle in the 75th minute. The goalmouth action was more likely at the other end however and Wilson, driven wide by Batth, drove a few feet wide from a reducing angle on 81. In a desperate bid to drag Wolves back into the game, Sako tried the spectacular seven minutes from time but his 35-yard free kick floated into the top few rows of the stand. And despite several aerial raids at the death, Wolves never really looked like hitting back. They will look to be much better when they play another team above them, Watford, on Saturday.